Prostate cancer Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand due to incomplete development of the record, specifically obtaining additional evidence related to environmental exposures during service and providing a VA medical opinion regarding whether prostate cancer was caused or aggravated by such exposure. The case is now pending for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer was denied as there is no confirmed exposure to herbicides during service, and the disease did not manifest within one year of separation. The evidence does not support a finding that the current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was reduced from 100% to 20% effective October 1, 2008 and then increased to 40% effective February 23, 2011. The reduction in rating was proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur a lung disability during service or as a result of service, and there is no evidence to support his claim for left ankle disability. The claims have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has denied the claim of entitlement to DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence linking prostate cancer to service and rejecting the appellant's assertion of Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer and/or residuals thereof is being remanded due to a VCAA notice deficiency, the need to obtain private treatment records, and the need for more specific identification of environmental exposures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep disorder is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, granting service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicides during service in Korea, and the Board grants service connection for residuals of prostate cancer.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent, and his residuals of prostate cancer were rated at 40 percent from February 1, 2013. The appeal for higher initial ratings is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his genitourinary disabilities, specifically distinguishing between bowel dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is related to his exposure to herbicides during service, specifically in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals had improved and were no longer disabling, leading to a reduction from 100% to 0%. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 was denied as he received special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ, which precluded the application of this benefit.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and determining whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service. The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for prostate cancer are on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal seeking a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of prostate cancer has been dismissed. The claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, restless leg syndrome, prostate cancer, and hypertension. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, beginning December 1, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from finding or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer. The Board finds that there is no legal basis to grant such a claim as the preponderance of evidence does not support an earlier effective date than January 10, 2007.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of hemorrhoids or right foot plantar wart disabilities for VA compensation purposes.